Switch operating mechanism



p 1941- c. H. BISSELL 2,257,033

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l C:|%

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ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 23, 1941. c. H. BISSELL 2,257,033

, SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 41 I t /40 44 45 4g 'IIIIIIIII" 25- 19 1WENTR. BY %%%%m% ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1941 SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Carl H. Bissell, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y.,.a ,corporation of New York ApplicationJanuaryZS, 1940, Serial No. 315,568

5 Claims.

pedals.

The invention has as a further object a pedal operated switch actuating mechanism formed as an integral part of a closure for the switch housing and embodying the provision of means whereby the switch may be actuated either manually, or by the foot pedals, or both manually and by the foot pedals. The structure is so arranged that the mechanism may be originally installed for either manual or foot operation, .and

can be conveniently changed on the job to include both methods of operation, or changed from one method of operation to the other.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a switch actuating mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure l, with the cover plate removed and the pedal structure shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on line 33, Figure v2, illustrating the mechanism mounted on the switch housing.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44, Figure 2.

The switch housing I may be of any suitable type or construction. It is here shown in the nature of a box of general rectangular form provided with one or more hubs ll having conduit receiving apertures, whereby the housing may be properly connected in a conduit system. The top or face side of the housing is formed with a substantial opening. A switch I 2, here illustrated as of the conventional toggle type, is mounted in the housing in the usual manner with the operating handle l3 extending outwardly toward or through the opening of the housing.

The actuating mechanism includes a closure member [4 for the opening in the housing. Preferably, the closure member is also of box formation having a bottom wall I5 and end walls l6.

The bottom wall l5 overlies the marginal surface about the opening of the housing and is formed With a raised portion ll extending transversely across the central portion of the closure member.

The closure member is detachabl-y mounted upon and secured to the housing by a stud [-8 extending through apertures formed in the bottom wall .15 adjacent each .corner of the closure member and threading .into the housing. The studs I 8 extend outwardly and terminate adjacent the outer edge of the wall l6, and are formed with threaded apertures .to receive screws L9 to secure an outer cover to the closure member.

A rock shaft 2| is journalled in the raised .portion ll adjacent one side of the closure member, see Figure 2, and is provided at its inner end with a bifurcated member 2-3 arranged to engage the switch handle 13 and to actuate the same into on and oil positions upon oscillation of the shaft.

An angle lever 24 is secured to the outer end of the shaft '21, as by set screw 25, and is provided with an elongated arm 26 extending through a slot 21 formed in one of the side walls l6 of the closure'member and serves as a manual by-which the switch may be actuated by hand. The lever .24 is provided with ,a shorter arm 23 to which one end of a link 29 is pivotally connected, and the opposite vend pivotally connected to a boss 30 extending laterally from a lever 3| vjournalled intermediate its ends on a stud 32 secured to the raisedportion I! of the bottom wall of the closure member. a

.One of the walls It is provided with a hu portion 35 threaded to receive a tubular guide member .35 which may be secured in place as by a set screw 31. The tubular guide member 36 extends outwardly from the closure member, or depends therefrom, parallel to the surface of the wall 38 in which thebody I0 is mounted, to a point Where the pedals carried by the guide member may be conveniently operated by foot. The mechanism is here shown as being provided with two foot pedals 40 slidably mounted in the lower end of the tubular member 36. The pedal members 49 are formed with laterally extending projections 4| extending radially through axially extending slots 32 formed in the lower end of the guide member 36. Each of the pedal members 40 is operatively connected with the respective ends of the lever 3| as by wires 43. The lower ends of the pedal members are formed with a recess to slidably receive a plug 45, and the lower end of each of the wires 43 extends through an aperture formed in the upper porthe pedal member.

by set screw 52.

tion of each pedal member and are secured to the plug members 45. A helical compression spring 46 is interposed between each plug 45 and This arrangement is to prov vide a yielding connection between the wires 43 and the pedal members 40. A cap 41 is secured to the lower end of the guide member 36. Preferably, the pedal members 40' are separated by a partition 48, the lower end of which is arranged in a plug 49 mounted in the cap 41, as by screw 50.

provided with an aperture to rotatably receive a pin Each of'the pins 5| is provided with a transversely extending aperture located centrally of the pin to receive the upper end of the wire 43. The arrangement is such that the wire extends through the slot in thebiiurcated end.

end of said guide member, motion transmitting means arranged in said tubular guide member and operatively connecting said pedal and said switch actuating element, and means for detachably securing said closure member to the' housing. 1

'3. The combination of a switch housing having an opening in one side thereof,. a switch mounted in the housing, of mechanism for operating said switch, said mechanism comprising closure member for the opening in said hous- The ends of the lever 3! are bifurcated and ing, a rock shaft journalled in said closure member and being provided at its inner end with means engaging the operating handle of the switch, a lever secured to the outer end of said -r0ck shaft, a tubular member detachably secured to the closure member and depending therefrom,

of the lever 3| and is secured to the pin 5| as.

With this construction, the pin is freely mounted for rotation in the end of the lever 3|=and axial movement of the pin is prevented by the wire 43.

It willbe observed that the switch may be actuated to on and ofi position manually by the projecting portion 26 of lever 24, or the switch may be actuated by depressing the projections 4| onpedal members 49. i If it is desired to install the mechanism-without the pedal arrangement, "the Y tubular member and pedals are omitted and the aperture in hub 35 provided with a plug. Subsequently, the pedal arrangement 'may be conveniently added to the mechanism.

What I claim is: i n

'1. The combination of a switch housing having an opening in one side thereof, a switch mounted in the housing, of mechanism for operating' said switch, said mechanism comprising a closure member for the opening of the housing, a switch actuating element carried by said closure member, a tubular guide member secured to slaidrclosure member and extending therefrom, a pair of pedal members movably mounted in v the outer end of said guide member, and motion transmitting means housed within said guide member and operatively connecting said pedal members with said switch actuating element, said element'be'ing operable upon movement of said pedals to shift said switch into on and off positions.

2; 'The combination of a switch housing having an opening in one side thereof, a switch mounted in the housing, of mechanism for operating said switch, said mechanism comprising a closure member for the opening in the housing, a switch actuating element mounted on said closure member, a' tubular guide member secured to said closure member and extending therefrom, a pedal member movably mounted in the outer CAD a pair of foot pedals slidably mounted in said tubular member, and motion transmitting means operatively connecting said foot pedals with said lever, and means for detachably securing the closure member to the housing.

4;"The combination of a switch housing having an opening in'one side thereof, a switch mounted in the housing, of mechanism for operating said switch, said mechanism comprising a boxlike closure member with the bottom wall of said member acting as a closure for the opening in the housing, a switch actuating element journalled in the bottom wall of said member and being operable upon oscillation to actuate the switch into on and oiT positions, a tubular member arranged in one side wall of said end closure and extending outwardly therefrom, a foot pedal slidably mounted on said guide member, and

motion transmitting means operatively connect.- 7

ing said pedal with the switch actuating element andbeing operable upon sliding movement of said pedal to effect oscillation of said actuating member, and means for detachably securing said closure member to the housing.

5. The combination of a switch housing having an opening in one side thereof,a switch mounted in the housing and mechanism for operating said switch, said mechanism comprising aboxlike closure member detachably secured to the body with the bottom wall of said member forming a closure for the'opening in the body, a" shaft pivotally mounted in the bottom Wall of said member and being provided at its inner end with means operable to engage the actuating element of said switch, a lever secured to the outer end of said shaft, a tubular guide member detachably secured in one sidewall of said 010- sure member and depending therefrom, a pair of pedals movably mounted in said guide -member, and motion transmitting means operatively connecting said pedals and said lever.

CAR-L I-I. BISSELL. 

